Abstract
Executive function deficits have been previously documented in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Objective:
The current study aimed to compare measures of executive functions among a clinical sample of adults with ADHD and normal control subjects, matched for age, gender and education.
Methods:
Twenty-three self-referred adults diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, and twenty-five control subjects were assessed using a neuropsychological battery which included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Tower of Hanoi, Digit Span, Trail Making Test (A and B), Stroop Test and Raven's Progressive Matrices.
Results:
The ADHD group did not differ significantly from the control subjects on any of the measures assessed.
Conclusion:
Measures of executive functions using this test battery were unable to discriminate between adults with ADHD and control subjects in this clinical sample.
Key words:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; attention; executive functions; neuropsychological tests; adults.
Resumo
Déficits de funções executivas foram previamente documentados em portadores de Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH).
Objetivo:
O presente estudo objetivou comparar medidas de funções executivas entre adultos portadores de TDAH e controles normais, pareados por idade, sexo e escolaridade.
Métodos:
Vinte e três adultos auto-referidos diagnosticados como portadores de TDAH de acordo com os critérios do DSM-IV e vinte e cinco controles foram avaliados com bateria de testes neuropsicológicos, que incluía: Teste de Seleção de Cartas de Wisconsin, Torre de Hanoi, Amplitude de Dígitos , Teste das Trilhas (A e B), Teste de Stroop e Matrizes Progressivas de Raven.
Resultados:
O desempenho dos portadores de TDAH não diferiu de forma significativa dos controles em nenhum dos testes utilizados.
Conclusão:
A bateria de testes de funções executivas utilizada no presente estudo não foi capaz de discriminar adultos portadores de TDAH de controles desta amostra clínica.
Palavras-chave:
Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade; atenção; funções executivas; testes neuropsicológicos; adultos.
Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.
Full text available only in PDF format.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Jan-Mar 2009
History
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Received
20 Nov 2008 -
Accepted
17 Feb 2009